(6.) There are promises made to God’s people, when they are in distress, and, at present, see no way of escape: Thus when Jeremiah was shut up in the court of the prison, he had this promise given him, in Jer. xxxiii. 3. ‘Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.’
(7.) God has made promises suited to the condition of his people, when their lot is cast in perilous times: Thus it is said, in Isa. xliii. 2. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Now there are several mercies which God has promised to his people, under the various afflictions which we are exposed to, as,
(1st,) Sometimes he promises to prevent the afflictions which we are most afraid of, in Psal. cxxi. 7. ‘The Lord shall preserve thee from all evils; he shall preserve thy soul.’ And, in Job v. 19. ‘He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.’
(2d,) He has promised to preserve his people from, or defend them in, a time of trouble, in Gen. xv. 1. ‘Fear not Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.’ And, in Ezek. xi. 16. ‘Thus saith the Lord; although I have cast them far off among the heathen; and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.’
(3d,) He has promised to moderate their afflictions, in Isa. xxvii. 8. ‘In measure when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it; he stayeth his rough wind in the day of his east wind.’ And, in Jer. xlvi. 28. ‘Fear thou not, O Jacob, my servant, saith the Lord, for I am with thee, for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee, but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet I will not leave thee wholly unpunished.’
(4th,) He has also promised, that if need be, he will shorten the affliction, in Psal. cxxv. 3. ‘The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.’ And, in Mark xiii. 19, 20. ‘In those days shall be affliction such as was not from the beginning of the creation: And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh could be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.’
(5th,) God has also promised his people that he will enable them to bear those afflictions which he lays upon them, in Psal. xxxvii. 24. ‘Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.’ And, in 2 Cor. xii. 9. ‘He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’
(6th.) He has promised to shew his people the particular sin that is the cause of the affliction, that they may be humbled for it, in Job xxxvi. 8, 9. ‘If they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; then he sheweth them their work and their transgressions that they have exceeded.’
(7th.) He has promised to bring good to them out of their afflictions, in Isa. xxvii. 9. ‘By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his sin.’ And in Psal. xcvii. 11. ‘light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.’ And in Zech. xiii. 9. ‘I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, that it is my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.’ Thus concerning the promises that more especially respect outward blessings which God bestows on his people.